Automatic circuit-breaker for electric irons.



A. J. FABER.

AUTOMATIC cmcun BREAKER FOR ELECTRIC IRONS.

' APPLICATION HLED MAR. 9.191]. 1,288,855.

Og- Gig/Ewen Patented Dec. 24, 1918,

WITNESSES ATTORNEY ASMINOYGN, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFioE.

A DREW J. FABER, or oswneo, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT-BREAKER FOR, ELECTRIC IRONS.'.

Application filed March 9,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW J. FABER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oswego, in the county of Oswego and .State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Circuit-Breakers forElectric Irons, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an automatic circuit breaker for electricirons, etc, the primary object of the invention being to provide adevice of this character for controlling the supply of current to theresistance coil of; the iron, whereby, when the temperature of the ironexceeds a predetermined degree, the flow of current will be .cut off,and when the temperature falls below the predetermined high point, thecurrent will be again let on, the operation being such as to maintainthe iron at substantially uniform temperature and overheating of theiron prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which is simple of construction, inexpensive of production,reliable and eflicient in operation, and which will prevent the use ofan excessive amount of current and thus reduce the cost of electricity.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a view inelevation of the device, with parts broken away, showing the device incircuit closing position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the de vice in a circuit breakingposition.

Fig. 8 is a detail transverse section through the device, taken on aline above the upper end of the vertically movable rod or stem.

In carrying my invention into practice, I provide a circuit breaker orcontrolling switch comprising a tubular casing 1, closed at its upperand lower ends, said casing being made of glass or other suitablenon-conductin material and having its lower end expanded to form a bulb2 containing a body ofan expansible liquid 3, adapted to be expanded andcontracted by heat and cold, ordinary mercury being commonly employed.

Extendin into the casing 1 through one side thereof are contactterminals 4 and 5, composed of copper or other suitable conductingmaterial, which terminals are re- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918. 1917. Serial No. 153,660.

spectively provided with binding posts or screws 6 and 7 for respectiveconnection with conductors 8 and 9, the conductor 8 leading in practicefrom a suitable source of current supply and the conductor 9 to theprimary end of the resistance coil of the heating mechanism of the ironor other article to be heated.

The casing 1 may be supported in position upon the iron or other articlein any suitable manner and has arranged therein a float l0 composed ofcork or other suitable material and which rests upon the surface of thebody of expansible liquid 3, and is adapted to rise and fall therewith.Connected at its lower end with the float is a vertically movable rod orstem 11 forming a switch element, said rod or stem being composed of alower section 12 of fiber or other suitable non-conducting material andan upper section 13 of copper or other suitable conducting material,said sections bein suitably united at their proximate ends. he upper endof the section 13 is provided with a head or stop 14 to engage theterminal 4 and limit the downward movement of the stem or switch elementas a whole.

At all normal temperatures up to a predetermined temperature, theconducting portion 13 of the rod or stem 11 is in electrical contactwith the terminals 4 and 5, and which are provided with openings throughwhich the stem is free to slide, and thus the terminals 4 and 5 areelectrically connected for the flow of current from the conductor 8 toand through the contact 4, the conductor 13, terminal 5 and the comductor 10 to the heating coil of the iron or other article, whereby aflow of current to the coil is obtained. This condition maintains,notwithstanding certain fluctuations of temperature, as the float androd are free to rise and fall with the expanded and contracted body ofmercury up to a certain degree point, as the stem section 13 will bemaintained in contact with the terminals 4 and 5. If, however, thetemperature should rise above a predetermined or safety point, themercury will be expanded to a greater degree causing the rod or stem 11to move upward and bring the non-conducting portion 12' thereof intoengagement with the terminal 5 or both terminals 4 and 5, where by theflow of current to the iron will be arrested. Then the temperature ofthe iron again falls below the maximum point, the

rod or stem will descend as the mercury contracts, again bringing theconductor 13 into engagement with the contacts 4 and 5 to effect aresumption in the flow of the current. The current breaker or switch isso constructed as to maintain the supply of current at a substantiallyuniform rate and prevent overheating of the iron, the current beingautomatically cut off before the overheating point is reached, thusobviating the liability of danger and at the same time reducing theamount and cost of current. It

will, of course, be obvious, that the device is simple of construction,of a character to secure reliability and efficiency of operation, andmay be made and sold at a comparatively low cost. It Will also beevident that the device may be used in connection with sadirons andvarious other electrically heated articles.

I claim 1. A thermostatically controlled circuit breaker comprising acasing, an expansive liquid contained therein, a float operated by theliquid, a pair otspaced circuit terminals,

and a member operated by the float and having conducting and insulatedportions operating through and guided by said terminals.

2. A thermostatic circuit closer comprising a casing, an expansive fluidcontained therein, a float operated by the expansion and contraction ofthe fluid, a pair of spaced circuit terminals of conducting materialdisposed Within the casing and having openings therein, and a rodconnected With the float and movable through said openings for contactwith said circuit terminals, said rod having a conducting portionnormally in engagement with the terminals and a nonconducting portionadapted to be engaged with the terminals by predetermined upwardmovements of the float.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ANDREXV J. FABEB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

